| Introduction | ix |
| Photo Credits | xi |
| Adams Earley, Charity (Pioneering African-American WAC officer) | 1 |
| Bambaataa, Afrika (Hip-hop pioneer) | 6 |
| Beasley, Phoebe (Radio executive and talented artist) | 10 |
| Benson, Angela ("Romantic" writer) | 13 |
| Blige, Mary J. (The Queen of Hip Hop Soul) | 16 |
| Bogle, Donald (Respected culture critic and historian) | 21 |
| Bonds, Barry (National League four-time MVP) | 24 |
| Brandy (Multi-talented singer and actress) | 28 |
| Claiborne, Loretta (Inspirational Special Olympics athlete) | 31 |
| Curling, Alvin (Reputable Canadian politican) | 34 |
| Dadie, Bernard (Celebrated West African author) | 38 |
| Davis, Viola (Tony award-winning actress) | 41 |
| Delsarte, Louis (Gifted modern artist) | 44 |
| Dobbs, Mattiwilda (Internationally-known opera singer) | 46 |
| Ellington, Mercedes (Hard-working dancer and choreographer) | 50 |
| Franklin, Shirley Clarke (Atlanta's first female mayor) | 53 |
| Glover, Corey (Living Colour rocker) | 57 |
| Hammond, Lenn (Canadian reggae star) | 60 |
| Harper, Ben (Versatile musician) | 63 |
| Harper, Michael S. (Revered poet) | 66 |
| Harris, Claire (Leading Canadian poet) | 69 |
| Holder, Laurence (Esteemed playwright) | 72 |
| India.Arie (Up-and-coming Neosoul vocalist) | 75 |
| Isaac, Julius (Former Chief Justice of Canada's Federal Court) | 78 |
| Joachim. Paulin (Celebrated artist and critic) | 80 |
| Jones, Merlakia (Determined Cleveland Rockers star) | 83 |
| Kilpatrick, Kwame (Detroit's youngest mayor) | 85 |
| Kodjoe, Boris (Socially-conscious actor) | 88 |
| Kravitz, Lenny (Uncompromising rock musician) | 91 |
| KRS-One (Hip-hop vanguard) | 96 |
| Manley, Rachel (Autobiographical author) | 101 |
| Marsalis, Branford (Grammy award-winning saxophonist) | 103 |
| Mary, Mary (Popular Gospel duo) | 107 |
| Mays, William G. (Mays Chemical Company founder) | 110 |
| McKnight, Brian (Smooth R&B vocalist) | 113 |
| MC Lyte (First female rapper to score a gold record) | 116 |
| Mullen, Harryette (The "Queen of Hip Hop Hyperbole") | 119 |
| Parks, Suzan-Lori (Avante-garde playwright) | 122 |
| Powell, Renee (Ground-breaking golfer) | 125 |
| Reid, Vernon (Living Colour guitarist) | 128 |
| Robinson, Fatima (Hip-hop choreographer) | 131 |
| Rucker, Darius (Hootie and the Blowfish baritone) | 133 |
| Savimbi, Jonas (Charismatic Angolan rebel) | 136 |
| Scott, Stuart (Successful ESPN sportscaster) | 140 |
| Sly & Robbie (Jamaican musicians and record producers) | 143 |
| Smith, Trixie (Southern blues singer) | 146 |
| Talbert, David E. ("Soul" playwright) | 148 |
| Taylor, Karin (Model-turned-businesswoman) | 151 |
| TLC (Incendiary R&B trio) | 154 |
| Walker, Hezekiah (The "Pastor of Hip Hop") | 159 |
| Waters, Muddy (Beloved blues musician) | 162 |
| White, Dondi (New York graffiti artist) | 165 |
| Whitfield, Van (Bestselling author) | 169 |
| Williams, Venus (Tennis prodigy) | 172 |
| Woods, Sylvia (Soul-food restauranteur) | 176 |
| Zuma, Nkosazana Dlamini (Powerful South African politican) | 179 |
| Cumulative Nationality Index | 183 |
| Cumulative Occupation Index | 195 |
| Cumulative Subject Index | 213 |
| Cumulative Name Index | 257 |
